Sports Legends Attend NY Fundraiser to Battle Muscular Dystrophy

New York Knicks legend Larry Johnson, RESPECT magazine columnist Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson, and Breanna Morello hosted the star-studded fundraiser, which was held at The Ainsworth in Manhattan. 

By Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson

Manhattan was the place to be over the weekend as New York City’s finest came out for a good cause.

More than 150 people were attendance at the Ainsworth over the weekend for Breanna’s Sports Mixer, an event created by sports and entertainment curator Breanna Morello. The event was created to raise money for Peri Finkelstein, who was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair and ventilator.

Breanna’s Sports Mixer raffled off cool sports memorabilia such as signed items from Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Ken Singleton, San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green, MLB Network Radio/Turned Sports anchor Casey Stern, New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis, MLB player Tony Gwynn Jr., former New York Met Bud Harrelson,the Buffalo Bills’ Tashard Choice, MLB Executive Reporter for MLB.com Mark Feinsand, and more.

The fundraiser was also joined by New York heavyweights. Former New York Knicks forward Larry Johnson was attendance. Joining him was former New York Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa, former Mets and Baltimore Orioles Executive Jim Duquette, YES Network anchor, Chris Shearn and RESPECT Magazine columnist and Scoop B Radio podcast host, Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson.

Peri Finkelstein has raised over $400,000 for Chai Lifeline, an organization that provides year–round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 4,500 children and their families every year.

Chai Lifeline's programs and activities change their lives forever, returning joy and hope and enabling them to live full and happy lives despite the presence of illness. Its most famous program is Camp Simcha and its sister camp, Camp Simcha Special. Every year these two camps offer 450 kids a chance to forget about illness and just be kids again.

Morello decided to support Peri Finkelstein in January as she participates in the Lifetime Miami Marathon. “I knew I wanted to contribute and become apart of this inspirational movement but I did not know how,” Morello wrote on the cause’s website.

“Peri and her mother, Lori have motivated me to participate with Peri in the Lifetime Miami Marathon this January. Chai Lifeline is a wonderful organization dedicated to helping very sick children and their families.”

Finkelstein herself has been unstoppable. Once told that she would never walk and that therapy was useless, she’s participated in six Lifetime Miami marathons.